Chapter 2: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
The silence inside the ballroom felt heavier than stone.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
The little girl clung tightly to Clara's dress as if she were afraid someone would take her away again.
The billionaire stared at the woman before him.
His hands trembled.
Five years.
Five long years he had believed Clara was dead.
The police report had said there were no survivors after the car plunged from the mountain road.
He had searched for months.
He had spent millions.
Eventually, everyone told him to move on.
But now she stood before him.
Alive.
"Clara..." he whispered again.
Tears filled his eyes.
The guests exchanged confused glances.
The woman everyone thought was a simple housekeeper suddenly became the center of the room.
Clara slowly stood.
Her voice shook.
"I never left willingly."
The words hit him like a thunderbolt.
"What do you mean?"
Clara looked around the ballroom before answering.
"Someone wanted me gone."
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Then she turned toward a woman standing near the engagement stage.
The billionaire's fiancée.
Victoria.
Victoria's face instantly lost all color.
For the first time that evening, fear appeared in her eyes.
And everyone noticed.